Flexible pusher plate for boring type mining machine



April 8, 1958 E- J. HLINSKY 2,829,875

FLEXIBLE PU SHER PLATE FOR BORING TYPE MINING MACHINE Filed Oct. 18.1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1' [NVENTOR Emil J. Hh'nsky I CHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2April 8, 1958 E. J. HLINSKY FLEXIBLE PUSHER PLATE FOR BORING TYPE MININGMA Filed Oct. 18. 1956 INVENTOR. Emil J. Hlinsky BY 7 M W ATTORNEY Fig.3

April 8, 1958 E. J. HLINSKY 2,829,875

FLEXIBLE PUSHER PLATE FOR BORING TYPE MINING MACHINE Filed Oct. 18, 19563 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

Emil J. Hlinsky 7 afl ATTORNEY position to be gathered by a FLEXIBLEPUSHER PLATE FOR BORING TYPE MINING MACHINE Application October 18,1956, Serial No. 616,764 2 Claims. (Cl; 262-7) This invention relatesgenerally to boring type mining machines arranged to cut a plurality ofcontiguous bores in the seam of coal or the like and more particularlyto pusher means for deflecting the cuttings into the conveyor of suchmachines.

It has heretofore been customary to provide boring type mining machineswith a laterally extending pusher plate at opposite sides of the machineand to the rear of the boring heads so as to aid said boring headsinsweeping the cuttings inwardly toward the center of themachine inconveyor. The outer edges of these pusher plates are usually of arcuateform to fit the bore patterns of the boring heads adjacent the minefloor while the machine is in operation, thus preventing escape of thecuttings rearwardly along the ribs of the bores. However, in order toafford maneuverability of the machine in the mine, as for instance whenwithdrawing the machine from the working face, means have been providedfor collapsing the pusher plates toward the machine, which means hasheretofore usually consisted of various linkage arrangements providinginwardly and upwardly swinging movement of the pusher plates. In outerends of the pusher plates have a single flap of rubber belting, mahaveproved inefiicient because they an effective job, and are often tornsteel plates while maneuvering the are too limber to do from theadjacent machine.

In addition, the at the ends of the provision of flexible rubberextensions pivotally mounted pusher plates tends fixed on the machineframe.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an improvedform of flexible pusher plate of suflicient flexibility to permitmaneuvering of the machine, but sufiiciently stifl to withstand theheavy pressures thereon during the cutting operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved form ofpusher plate, including a yieldable outer portion thereof which pusherplate is so mounted States atcnt Oifiice "usual on laterally spaced axeson An fixed, bar 21, with an inturned 2,829,875 Patented Apr. 8, 1958perspective view of one form of adjacent sprocket wheel of the sectionalview taken along line 7-7 of sectional view taken along line 99 ofpassing a fixed abutment; and

Figure 11 is a section similar to Figure 10, but showing how theflexible portion of the plate will deflect when moved endwise toward afixed abutment.

Referring now conveyor 13 mounted on the frame with an open throat 13 atthe front of said frame. An auxiliary frame 14 is supported on frame 11by jacks 16 and 17 in such a manner that the auxiliary frame 14 can beelevated or tilted in varying directions, as usual, relative to the mainframe 11. An upper trimmer bar 19 and lower trimmer bar 21 are mountedon the auxiliary frame by jacks 18 said trimmer bars. In the form oftrimmer bars'shown herein, said bars each consist of chain guides for anendless cutter chain 22.

. A pair of cutter heads 23;are rotatably mounted as Referring now toFigs. 2 and 3, the flights 32 of conveyor 13 extend to a point adjacentthe throat 13 in position to receive and carry away the cut anddislodged maupright pusher plate body 33 of sheet metal is as by bolts31 along the outer end of the trimmer inner end 33 at one side of theconveyor throat 13 Also mounted on hub 39 is a plate 23 which overlapspusher plate The construction of pusher plate 33 is shown in greaterdetail in Figs. 4 and 5 where it is seen that the flexible extensionconsists of two lapped sheets 34 and 34 of flexible material such asrubber belting. A spacer 41 spaces the two flexible sheets. In the formshown, the flexible a variant form of the flexible extension dilferingchiefly in that the two folded sheets 3 34 and 34 have their outer edgesjointed together by suitable means such as a line of bolts 36. One sheetwould bear against the rib 38 while the other sheet would act to stiifenthe otherwise relatively limber lower portion of the flexible extension.

Figs. 8 and 9 ilustrate still another variant form of flexible extensionin which a pair of spaced flexible sheets 37, 37 are disposedintermediate the metal pusher plate body 33 and an outer rib-engagingelement 42, preferably of a high abrasion-resistant metal. The sheets 37may or may not be made of one piece folded over inasmuch as the shorteroverhung length of flexible material together with the stilfening effectof securing the outer edges may not require the added stiffness providedby the upper horizontal fold.

In useythe pusher plate structures hereinabove disclosed will fit snuglyto the rib during the forward or mining cycle, then will yield duringthe reverse or retreating cycle, as indicatd in Figure 10, when themining machine rnay-not stay on a central course with respect to theroom mined; and then will yield laterally as the mining machine forcesitself toward the rib as when a turn or crosscut is initiated, asindicated in Figure 11. Thus, Figures 10 and 11 show that the yieldablyflexible pusher plate extension is capable either of flexure or of abellows-like collapsing action when the outer edges of the flexibleextension-encounteres an immovable or fixed abutment on an adjustmentrib;

It will be noted further from the above description that the improvedform and arrangement of pusher plates is fixed to and movable verticallywith the lower trimmer bar 21, thus eliminating the necessity for morecomplicated linkage means heretofore employed for rocking the pusherplates upwardly and inwardly on the outer ends of the trimmer bar.

Although I have shownand described a certain embodiment of my invention,it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the exactconstruction shown and described herein, but that various changes andmodifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

,1. In a multiple boring machine having a frame, a plurality of boringheads rotatable on said frame for cutting contiguous bores in advance ofthe frame, a horizonally disposed trimmer bar adjustable vertically ofthe frame rearwardly of the paths of rotation of the boring headsbetween a floor level approximately tangential to the maximum verticaldiameters ofsaid boring heads to positions substantially above saidfloor level, and an upright rigid pusher plate fixed on and adjustablevertically with said trimmer bar, said pusher plate including a flexibleextension projecting laterally beyond the end of the trimmer bar andhaving an arcuate outer edge adapted to engage the arcuate rib formed bythe adjacent boring head adjacent the floor, said extension consistingof a pair of flexible sheets formed of a single length of materialfolded downwardly in a general U-shape along its upper edge.

2.' In a multiple boring machine having a frame, a plurality of boringheads rotatable on said frame for cutting contiguous bores injadvance ofthe frame, said frame having a material removing conveyor with a loadingthroat at the front of said frame adjacent the floor level, ahorizontally disposed cutter-chain carrying trimmer bar adjustablevertically of the frame rearwardly of the paths of rotation of theboring heads between a floor level approximately tangential to themaximum vertical diameters of said'boring heads to positionssubstantially above said floor level, chain guide sprockets fixed on theopposite ends of said trimmer bar and upright rigid pusher plates fixedon said trimmer bar at opposite sides of said conveyor throat forvertical adjustment with said trimmer bar and guide sprockets, each ofsaid pusher plates having a flexible laterally projecting extensionfixed thereon for straight line vertical adjustment therewith, saidextension having an arcuate outer edge adapted to engage the arcuate ribof the bore formed by the adjacent boring head adjacent the mine floor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,719,710 Ogden Oct. 4, 1955 v

